By Brice Burge
Editor in Chief

The MQT Royales are going to the USA Hockey Tier III national championships with an extra piece of baggage: the Busch Cup.

After already clinching a national bid by defeating the Hudson Crusaders (Wisc.) in the semifinals, the Royales defeated the Dells Ducks 3-2 in overtime to win the Minnesota Junior Hockey League tournament championship to bring the first ever junior hockey title to MQT.

“Its amazing,” said Royales forward and MQT native Dallas McLaughlin. “I think a lot of guys on the team don't realize that this is such a big deal for this city.”

By Brice Burge
Editor in Chief

According to a league official, the Minnesota Junior Hockey League (MnJHL) held a hearing regarding the arrest and court appearances of two players of the Illiana Blackbirds. This hearing takes place before the start of the league Final Four in Oregon, Wisc..

MnJHL President Ralph Hayne said that a meeting took place with him, other MnJHL board members and Blackbirds' Owner, General Manager and Co-Coach Reid Simpson this morning.

"We had a hearing this morning that myself and several officers with the coach and general manager. We talked about an hour and a half," Hayne said.

By Brice Burge
Editor in Chief

The MQT Royales faced off in their first ever all-U.P. team matchup on Saturday, March 8 against the Portage Lake Pioneers of the Great Lakes Hockey League (GLHL). The exhibition game ended in a 7-4 victory for the Pioneers.

“(Portage Lake) is a little bit bigger and a little bit stronger, but these guys are smart.” Royales Head Coach Mike Stanaway said. “They have seen every trick in the book. It gives our guys not only an idea of what we do in the playoffs, but what its like to play three or four levels higher.”

By Brice Burge
Managing Editor

The Minnesota Junior Hockey League playoff tournament is set.

The Royales will get a first round bye for the weekend of March 7-9, as the eighth-seeded St. Louis Frontenacs was excused from the playoff tournament by the Great Lakes Division.

“We had a team decide to not spend the money to come up and get their butt kicked,” said MnJHL President Ralph Hayne.

By Brice Burge
Managing Editor

Needing to get back on track, the MQT Royales went on the road and swept the St. Louis Frontenacs in three games last weekend, 7-2, 10-3 and 7-5.

"I feel for the first time in quite some time, our team looked hungry," said Head Coach Mike Stanaway.

By Brice Burge
Managing Editor

After three periods, overtime and five rounds of shootout hockey, Hunter Heightland's shootout goal finally lifted the MQT Royales to a 7-6 victory on Sunday November 17 over the Tri-City Icehawks. The goal completed the three-game series sweep on the road, extending the Royales win streak to 23 games.

“We played three hard games on the road this weekend,” Royales Head Coach Mike Stanaway said. “For not seeing the road for a long time and not have the comforts of Lakeview Arena, we handled it pretty well.”

By Brandon Decremer
Royales Beat Writer

Every hockey player that laces up his skates does it because they absolutely love the game of hockey to the purest form. At the junior hockey level, the love of the game is only half of the reason that they suit up and play hard. The other half is opportunity. Not only do the players get the chance to learn more about the game of hockey but they play each game in hopes of receiving collegiate offers and continue to grow through the USA hockey system.

By Brandon Decremer
Royales Beat Writer

Hockey is back at Lakeview Arena this weekend after a week off, as the Marquette Royales (14-2) hope to trick the Wooster Oilers (12-6) into treating them to another three-game sweep. The Oilers quietly sit tied in second place with Illiana (12-5) in the Great Lakes division, just three points behind division leading MQT.

The Royales have an impressive 14-game win streak going on and are currently leading the MNJHL with 28 points, one point ahead of the Minnesota division's Maple Grove Energy (13-6). Wooster who has won five of their last six games are also currently in good position to make a run and compete for home ice come play-off time, which is the main objective at the moment for the top teams in each division.